Must-see events to look forward to in 2025

With 2025 already in full swing, many people are eyeing their calendars and searching for the best opportunities to visit London in the coming months. Luckily, there are quite a few reasons to embrace the city! From scores of incredible festivals and concerts taking place in the capital to a host of musicals taking over the West End, this article will explore why London should be your first stop for events in 2025.

New Year’s Day Parade

While it might be a bit too late to celebrate the first day of the year in London, you should keep this incredible parade in mind for next year! This annual event draws more than 500,000 people to London and includes dancers, acrobats and marching bands, among many other features. The parade winds straight through the capital, leaving copious amounts of confetti in its wake.

Date: 1 January 2025

Chinese New Year

Whether you observe Chinese New Year on your own or simply love a celebration, London has the event of a lifetime in store! On 2nd February, join the largest Lunar New Year holiday event outside of China and enjoy a huge parade through the city before stopping by Trafalgar Square for the one-day festival. While the new year actually begins on 29th January, the festivities in London really kick off over the weekend.

Date: 2 February 2025

London Fashion Week

Are you in the mood for something new? London Fashion Week begins on 20th February and features all-new designs from some of the most respected fashion houses in the industry. Join thousands of fashion fans as they fill the Barbican Centre to see the latest trends from designers such as Bad Habits, Dahlia Razzook, J E CAI and Wales Bonner, to name just a few.

Date: 20 - 24 February 2025.

London Games Festival

If you love games, then you’re in luck because this year marks the 10th anniversary of the current iteration of the London Games Festival. Organiser Games London has pulled out all the stops this year and plans to welcome more than 100,000 gaming enthusiasts to the city for a host of international speakers, new game expos, BAFTA Games Awards and plenty of live events from all manner of gaming platforms.

Date: 2 - 13 April 2025.

Chelsea Flower Show

Flowers might not be your first thought when you dream about exciting festivals, but the Chelsea Flower Show is a beloved annual event in London! From incredible garden designs to impressive floral exhibitions and even high-quality gardening tools to buy, there is something for gardening fans of all ages. And if spending one day browsing flowers isn’t reason enough to visit London, how about spending four days browsing flowers? The flower show runs from 20th to 24th May.

Date: 20 - 24 May 2025.

101 Dalmatians (18th July)

No discussion of entertainment in London would be complete without a quick glance at what the West End has on offer for the year. One of our most hotly anticipated events is the 101 Dalmatians musical coming in July 2025. This popular show will run for six weeks only this summer, featuring fun choreography, incredible puppetry and, of course, adorable puppies!

Date: 18 July 2025.

13 Going on 30 (21st September)

Based on the feel-good movie of the same name, 13 Going on 30 features West End favourite Lucie Jones and is produced by Andy Fickman, the man behind the irresistible Heathers: The Musical. If the show has caught your eye, keep close tabs on the calendar! The musical will only run for roughly three weeks (from 21st September to 12th October).

Note that if you’re interested in catching a West End show, make sure that you research upcoming shows early in the year. They typically have quite a limited run, and if you wait to grab a ticket, you might miss out on the show.

Date: 21 September 2025.

Are you ready for a year jam-packed with exciting festivals, incredible shows and even museum exhibitions? London should be your first stop for events in 2025! From annual holiday events to brand-new musicals and everything in between, there’s something for everyone to enjoy this year in the capital.